Page 122 of The Last Close Call

“Fuck.”

Jack grabbed the radio. “What?”

“He’s not there.”

“What do you mean? I’m looking right at him.”

“No, he’s not there. The car is there, but he’s not in it.”

Jack’s pulse jumped. “I didn’t see him get out.”

“Well, he did unless he crawled into the back seat and went to sleep. I’m going to get out and do a walk-by.”

Jack stared at the car parked in the shadows. It was near a streetlamp. How could he have missed Anderson getting out of it?

A dark figure moved near the playscape. Bryan. Jack recognized the way he moved, even in the dimness. A moment later, the figure disappeared into the shadows.

Jack glanced around, pulse racing now as he looked at his surroundings just as Bryan’s voice came over the radio.

“He’s gone.”

“Fuck.”

Jack shoved open his door. He glanced around. He took out his phone, set it to silent mode, and sent a message to Bryan.

I’m out of the car. Switch to texts.

If Anderson was lurking nearby, Jack didn’t want him overhearing the radio comms.

Jack looked around, bracing himself against the cold as he surveyed the area.

He visualized the utility easement in his mind. It cut a narrow swath through the east side of the neighborhood, and Jack set out for it.

Where r u going? Bryan texted him.

Utility easement, he replied. The wooded area behind the houses.

I’ll cover the street side in case he comes this way, Bryan responded.

Jack spotted the gap between houses at the end of the street. That was it. He broke into a jog, unzipping his jacket for easy access to his weapon. He looked at the houses as he passed them—some dark, some with porch lights on or windows glowing. The homes were one story, probably three- and four-bedrooms, some no doubt with sliding doors in the back.

Was this reconnaissance? Was he looking for a victim here? But this wasn’t his hunting ground.

Jack’s chest tightened as he surveyed the area. Maybe it was. For all Jack knew, he could have already scoped out this area long ago. They’d been so focused on San Antonio they hadn’t expected him to be working close to his home base. But they’d been watching the man for only four days, and he’d been living here for months. Maybe he’d previously canvassed this whole neighborhood and had a selection of targets all picked out. Everything about this place felt horribly familiar.

Jack’s phone vibrated, and he saw Heidi’s number. Bryan had probably called her.

“What the heck’s happening?” she demanded. “I thought you guys were staking out the house?”

“He’s on the move,” Jack whispered.

“You were supposed to call for backup if that happened. I’m at the motel.”

“Get a car over to the subdivision northeast of the campus.”

“What subdivision? Give me a street.”

Jack halted and glanced around him. The sign on the corner was too far away to read, so he tapped into the map on his phone.

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